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1980 NFL draft
1980 NFL draft
1980 NFL draft
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1980 NFL draft
The former Sheraton Hotel (draft venue), photographed in 2010
General information
DateApril 29–30, 1980
LocationNew York Sheraton Hotel
in New York City, NY
NetworkESPN
Overview
333 total selections in 12 rounds
LeagueNFL
First selectionBilly Sims, RB
Detroit Lions
Mr. IrrelevantTyrone McGriff, G
Pittsburgh Steelers
Most selections (15)New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
Fewest selections (8)Washington Redskins
Hall of Famers
4
← 1979
1981 →

The 1980 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in New York City, New York.[1][2] The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and before the regular season. With the first overall pick of the draft, the Detroit Lions selected running back Billy Sims.

This draft is notable as the first that the nascent ESPN network (which had first gone on the air seven months earlier) aired in its entirety, and the first to be televised.

Player selections

[edit]
* compensatory selection
† Pro Bowler[N 1]
‡ Hall of Famer[3]
Positions key
Offense Defense Special teams
  1. ^ Sometimes referred to as an edge rusher (EDGE)
  2. ^ Includes nose tackle (NT)
  3. ^ Includes middle linebacker (MLB or MIKE), outside linebacker (OLB, WILL, SAM), and off-ball linebacker
  4. ^ Includes free safety (FS) and strong safety (SS)
  5. ^ Also known as a placekicker (PK)
  6. ^ Includes kickoff and punt returners
Rnd. Pick No. NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes
1 1 Detroit Lions Billy Sims † RB Oklahoma Big Eight
1978 Heisman Trophy Winner[4]
1 2 New York Jets Lam Jones  WR Texas SWC
from San Francisco
1 3 Cincinnati Bengals Anthony Muñoz‡† OT USC Pac-10
1 4 Green Bay Packers Bruce Clark † DE Penn State Ind. (I-A)
1 5 Baltimore Colts Curtis Dickey  RB Texas A&M SWC
1 6 St. Louis Cardinals Curtis Greer  DE Michigan Big Ten
1 7 Atlanta Falcons Junior Miller † TE Nebraska Big Eight
1 8 New York Giants Mark Haynes † CB Colorado Big Eight
1 9 Minnesota Vikings Doug Martin  DE Washington Pac-10
1 10 Seattle Seahawks Jacob Green † DE Texas A&M SWC
from Buffalo
1 11 Kansas City Chiefs Brad Budde  G USC Pac-10
1 12 New Orleans Saints Stan Brock  OT Colorado Big Eight
1 13 San Francisco 49ers Earl Cooper  RB Rice SWC
from N.Y. Jets
1 14 New England Patriots Roland James  CB Tennessee SEC
1 15 Oakland Raiders Marc Wilson  QB BYU WAC
1 16 Buffalo Bills Jim Ritcher † G NC State ACC
from Seattle
1 17 Los Angeles Rams Johnnie Johnson  CB Texas SWC
from Cleveland
1 18 Washington Redskins Art Monk‡† WR Syracuse Ind. (I-A)
1 19 Chicago Bears Otis Wilson † LB Louisville Ind. (I-A)
1 20 San Francisco 49ers Jim Stuckey  DE Clemson ACC
from Denver via N.Y. Jets
1 21 Miami Dolphins Don McNeal  CB Alabama SEC
1 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ray Snell  G Wisconsin Big Ten
1 23 Philadelphia Eagles Roynell Young † CB Alcorn State SWAC
1 24 Baltimore Colts Derrick Hatchett  S Texas SWC
from Dallas
1 25 New England Patriots Vagas Ferguson  RB Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
from Houston
1 26 Green Bay Packers George Cumby  LB Oklahoma Big Eight
from San Diego
1 27 Cleveland Browns Charles White † RB USC Pac-10
from Los Angeles 1979 Heisman Trophy winner[5]
1 28 Pittsburgh Steelers Mark Malone  QB Arizona State Pac-10
2 29 Buffalo Bills Joe Cribbs † RB Auburn SEC
from Detroit
2 30 Minnesota Vikings Willie Teal  CB LSU SEC
from San Francisco via Philadelphia
2 31 Cincinnati Bengals Kirby Criswell  LB Kansas Big Eight
2 32 Baltimore Colts Ray Donaldson † C Georgia SEC
2 33 St. Louis Cardinals Doug Marsh  TE Michigan Big Ten
2 34 Green Bay Packers Mark Lee  CB Washington Pac-10
2 35 Pittsburgh Steelers Bob Kohrs  DE Arizona State Pac-10
From N.Y. Giants
2 36 Atlanta Falcons Buddy Curry  LB North Carolina ACC
2 37 Buffalo Bills Gene Bradley  QB Arkansas State Southland
2 38 Houston Oilers Angelo Fields  OT Michigan State Big Ten
from Kansas City
2 39 San Francisco 49ers Keena Turner † LB Purdue Big Ten
from Minnesota
2 40 New York Jets Darrol Ray  CB Oklahoma Big Eight
2 41 New Orleans Saints Dave Waymer † S Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
2 42 Denver Broncos Rulon Jones † DE Utah State Big West
from Cleveland
2 43 Oakland Raiders Matt Millen † LB Penn State Ind. (I-A)
2 44 Seattle Seahawks Andre Hines  OT Stanford Pac-10
2 45 New England Patriots Larry McGrew  LB USC Pac-10
2 46 Chicago Bears Matt Suhey  RB Penn State Ind. (I-A)
2 47 New York Jets Ralph Clayton  WR Michigan Big Ten
from Denver
2 48 Miami Dolphins Dwight Stephenson‡† C Alabama SEC
2 49 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kevin House  WR Southern Illinois MVC
2 50 Los Angeles Rams Irv Pankey  OT Penn State Ind. (I-A)
from Washington
2 51 Baltimore Colts Tim Foley  OT Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
from Dallas
2 52 Houston Oilers Daryle Skaugstad  DT California Pac-10
2 53 Philadelphia Eagles Perry Harrington  RB Jackson State SWAC
2 54 Cleveland Browns Cleveland Crosby  DE Arizona Pac-10
from San Diego via Los Angeles
2 55 Washington Redskins Mat Mendenhall  DE BYU WAC
from Los Angeles
2 56 Pittsburgh Steelers John Goodman  DE Oklahoma Big Eight
3 57 Detroit Lions Tom Turnure  C Washington Pac-10
3 58 Los Angeles Rams Jewerl Thomas  RB San Jose State PCAA
from San Francisco
3 59 Cincinnati Bengals Ron Horn  DT Nebraska Big Eight
3 60 St. Louis Cardinals John Sinnott  OT Brown Ivy
3 61 Green Bay Packers Syd Kitson  G Wake Forest ACC
3 62 Detroit Lions Mike Friede  WR Indiana Big Ten
from Baltimore
3 63 Atlanta Falcons Earl Jones  CB Norfolk State CIAA
3 64 New York Giants Myron Lapka  DT USC Pac-10
3 65 San Francisco 49ers Jim Miller  P Ole Miss SEC
from Minnesota
3 66 Kansas City Chiefs James Hadnot  RB Texas Tech SWC
3 67 Buffalo Bills Mark Brammer  TE Michigan State Big Ten
3 68 Minnesota Vikings Brent Boyd  G UCLA Pac-10
from New Orleans
3 69 New York Jets Lance Mehl † LB Penn State Ind. (I-A)
3 70 Los Angeles Rams LeRoy Irvin † CB Kansas Big Eight
from Oakland
3 71 Buffalo Bills Schmeding, JohnJohn Schmeding  G Boston College Ind. (I-A)
from Seattle
3 72 Cleveland Browns Cliff Odom  LB Texas–Arlington —
3 73 New England Patriots Steve McMichael‡† DT Texas SWC
3 74 Denver Broncos Carter, LarryLarry Carter  DB Kentucky SEC
3 75 Miami Dolphins Bill Barnett  DE Nebraska Big Eight
3 76 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Scot Brantley  LB Florida SEC
3 77 San Francisco 49ers Craig Puki  LB Tennessee SEC
3 78 Dallas Cowboys Bill Roe  LB Colorado Big Eight
from Chicago
3 79 Houston Oilers Tim Smith  WR Nebraska Big Eight
3 80 Dallas Cowboys James Jones  RB Mississippi State SEC
3 81 St. Louis Cardinals Charles Baker  LB New Mexico WAC
from San Diego
3 82 Los Angeles Rams Phil Murphy  DT South Carolina State MEAC
3 83 Pittsburgh Steelers Sydnor, RayRay Sydnor  TE Wisconsin Big Ten
4 84 San Francisco 49ers Ricky Churchman  SS Texas SWC
4 85 Detroit Lions Eric Hipple  QB Utah State Big West
4 86 Cincinnati Bengals Glass, WilliamWilliam Glass  G Baylor SWC
4 87 Green Bay Packers Fred Nixon  WR Oklahoma Big Eight
4 88 Baltimore Colts Ray Butler  WR USC Pac-10
4 89 St. Louis Cardinals Rusty Lisch  QB Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
4 90 New York Giants Danny Pittman  WR Wyoming WAC
4 91 Atlanta Falcons Jim Laughlin  LB Ohio State Big Ten
4 92 Minnesota Vikings Dennis Johnson  LB USC Pac-10
4 93 Buffalo Bills Ervin Parker  LB South Carolina State MEAC
4 94 Kansas City Chiefs Dave Klug  LB Concordia–Moorhead N/A
4 95 New York Jets Jesse Johnson  CB Colorado Big Eight
4 96 New Orleans Saints Mike Jolly  S Michigan Big Ten
4 97 Seattle Seahawks Terry Dion  DE Oregon Pac-10
4 98 San Francisco 49ers Hodge, DavidDavid Hodge  LB Houston SWC
4 99 Cleveland Browns Ron Crews  DT UNLV Ind.
4 100 Miami Dolphins Elmer Bailey  WR Minnesota Big Ten
4 101 San Diego Chargers Ed Luther  QB San Jose State PCAA
from Tampa Bay
4 102 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Larry Flowers  S Texas Tech SWC
4 103 Chicago Bears Arland Thompson  G Baylor SWC
4 104 Atlanta Falcons I. M. Hipp  RB Nebraska Big Eight
4 105 Dallas Cowboys Kurt Petersen  G Missouri Big Eight
4 106 Houston Oilers Chris Combs  TE New Mexico WAC
4 107 Denver Broncos Rick Parros  RB Utah State Big West
4 108 San Diego Chargers Bob Gregor  S Washington State Pac-10
4 109 Cleveland Browns Paul McDonald  QB USC Pac-10
from Los Angeles
4 110 Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Hurley  S Syracuse Ind. (I-A)
5 111 Detroit Lions Streeter, MarkMark Streeter  DB Arizona Pac-10
5 112 San Francisco 49ers Times, KennethKenneth Times  DT Southern SWAC
5 113 Cincinnati Bengals Bryan Hicks  S McNeese State Southland
5 114 Kansas City Chiefs Carlos Carson † WR LSU SEC
5 115 Kansas City Chiefs Pensick, DanDan Pensick  DT Nebraska Big Eight
5 116 Cleveland Browns Elvis Franks  DE Morgan State Ind. (Div. II)
5 117 Atlanta Falcons Vassar, BradBrad Vassar  LB Pacific PCAA
5 118 New York Giants Tony Blount  S Virginia ACC
5 119 Buffalo Bills Pyburn, JeffJeff Pyburn  DB Georgia SEC
5 120 Detroit Lions Tommie Ginn  C Arkansas SWC
5 121 Minnesota Vikings Doug Paschal  RB North Carolina ACC
5 122 Minnesota Vikings Jones, PaulPaul Jones  RB California Pac-10
5 123 New York Jets Zidd, JimJim Zidd  LB Kansas Big Eight
5 124 New England Patriots Doug McDougald  N/A Virginia Tech Ind.
5 125 Oakland Raiders Kenny Lewis  RB Virginia Tech Ind.
5 126 Oakland Raiders Adams, JohnJohn Adams  LB LSU SEC
5 127 Seattle Seahawks Joe Steele  RB Washington Pac-10
5 128 Oakland Raiders Bowens, WilliamWilliam Bowens  LB North Alabama Gulf South
5 129 Buffalo Bills Keith Lee  CB Colorado State WAC
5 130 Chicago Bears Paul Tabor  C Oklahoma Big Eight
5 131 Denver Broncos Mike Harden  S Michigan Big Ten
5 132 Seattle Seahawks Jacobs, DanielDaniel Jacobs  DE Winston-Salem State CIAA
5 133 Dallas Cowboys Gary Hogeboom  QB Central Michigan MAC
5 134 Houston Oilers John Corker  LB Oklahoma State Big Eight
5 135 Philadelphia Eagles Nate Rivers  RB South Carolina State MEAC
5 136 Denver Broncos Laval Short  DT Colorado Big Eight
5 137 Atlanta Falcons Kenny Johnson  CB Mississippi State SEC
5 138 Pittsburgh Steelers Craig Wolfley  G Syracuse Ind. (I-A)
6 139 San Francisco 49ers Herb Williams  CB Southern SWAC
6 140 Detroit Lions Chris Dieterich  OT NC State ACC
6 141 Cincinnati Bengals Jo Jo Heath  CB Pittsburgh Ind. (I-A)
6 142 St. Louis Cardinals Bill Acker  DT Texas SWC
6 143 Green Bay Packers Karl Swanke  OT Boston College Ind. (I-A)
6 144 Baltimore Colts Chris Foote  C USC Pac-10
6 145 New York Giants Scott Brunner  QB Delaware Ind. (Div. II)
6 146 Atlanta Falcons Davis, MikeMike Davis  DB Colorado Big Eight
6 147 Kansas City Chiefs Bubba Garcia  WR UTEP WAC
6 148 Minnesota Vikings Ray Yakavonis  DT East Stroudsburg State PSAC
6 149 New York Jets George Visger  DT Colorado Big Eight
6 150 New Orleans Saints Boyd, LesterLester Boyd  LB Kentucky SEC
6 151 San Diego Chargers LaRue Harrington  RB Norfolk State CIAA
6 152 New York Jets Schremp, TomTom Schremp  DE Wisconsin Big Ten
6 153 Seattle Seahawks McNeal, MarkMark McNeal  DE Idaho Big Sky
6 154 Los Angeles Rams Mike Guman  RB Penn State Ind. (I-A)
6 155 Washington Redskins Bell, FarleyFarley Bell  LB Cincinnati Ind. (I-A)
6 156 Chicago Bears Guess, MikeMike Guess  DB Ohio State Big Ten
6 157 Denver Broncos Keith Bishop † G Baylor SWC
6 158 Miami Dolphins Byrd, EugeneEugene Byrd  WR Michigan State Big Ten
6 159 Cincinnati Bengals Andrew Melontree  LB Baylor SWC
6 160 New England Patriots Preston Brown  WR Vanderbilt SEC
6 161 Philadelphia Eagles Greg Murtha  OT Minnesota Big Ten
6 162 Dallas Cowboys Timmy Newsome  RB Winston-Salem State CIAA
6 163 San Diego Chargers Hamilton, WayneWayne Hamilton  LB Alabama SEC
6 164 Kansas City Chiefs Larry Heater  RB Arizona Pac-10
6 165 Pittsburgh Steelers Tunch Ilkin † OT Indiana State Ind. (I-A)
7 166 Detroit Lions Eddie Murray † K Tulane Ind. (I-A)
7 167 Cincinnati Bengals Ron Simpkins  LB Michigan Big Ten
7 168 Cincinnati Bengals Johnson, Gary DonGary Don Johnson  DT Baylor SWC
7 169 Green Bay Packers Buddy Aydelette  OT Alabama SEC
7 170 Baltimore Colts Wes Roberts  DE TCU SWC
7 171 St. Louis Cardinals Ben Apuna  LB Arizona State Pac-10
7 172 Atlanta Falcons Mike Smith  WR Grambling State SWAC
7 173 Oakland Raiders Malcolm Barnwell  WR Virginia Union CIAA
7 174 Minnesota Vikings Henry Johnson  LB Georgia Tech Ind.
7 175 San Diego Chargers Chuck Loewen  OT South Dakota State NCC
7 176 Los Angeles Rams Kirk Collins  CB Baylor SWC
7 177 New Orleans Saints Morucci, MikeMike Morucci  RB Bloomsburg State N/A
7 178 New York Jets Bobby Batton  RB UNLV Ind.
7 179 New York Giants Darryl Hebert  DB Oklahoma Big Eight
7 180 New England Patriots Kearns, TomTom Kearns  G Kentucky SEC
7 181 New York Giants Chris Linnin  DE Washington Pac-10
7 182 Houston Oilers Craig Bradshaw  QB Utah State Big West
7 183 Chicago Bears Emanuel Tolbert  WR SMU SWC
7 184 Denver Broncos Havekost, JohnJohn Havekost  G Nebraska Big Eight
7 185 Miami Dolphins Joe Rose  TE California Pac-10
7 186 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Leonard, JimJim Leonard  G Santa Clara —
7 187 Washington Redskins Melvin Jones  G Houston SWC
7 188 Philadelphia Eagles Ward, TerrellTerrell Ward  DB San Diego State WAC
7 189 Dallas Cowboys Lester Brown  RB Clemson ACC
7 190 New York Jets Leverett, BennieBennie Leverett  RB Bethune–Cookman MEAC
7 191 San Diego Chargers Dodds, StuartStuart Dodds  P Montana State Big Sky
7 192 Los Angeles Rams Gerry Ellis  RB Missouri Big Eight
7 193 Pittsburgh Steelers Nate Johnson  WR Hillsdale GLIAC
8 194 Oakland Raiders Kenny Hill  S Yale Ivy
8 195 Baltimore Colts Walter, KenKen Walter  OT Texas Tech SWC
8 196 Cincinnati Bengals Lyles, MarkMark Lyles  RB Florida State Ind. (I-A)
8 197 Denver Broncos Coleman, DonDon Coleman  WR Oregon Pac-10
8 198 St. Louis Cardinals Branch, DupreeDupree Branch  DB Colorado State WAC
8 199 Green Bay Packers Smith, TimTim Smith  S Oregon State Pac-10
8 200 New York Giants Harris, KenKen Harris  RB Alabama SEC
8 201 Atlanta Falcons Al Richardson  LB Georgia Tech Ind.
8 202 Buffalo Bills Todd Krueger  QB Northern Michigan MCAA
8 203 Kansas City Chiefs Stepney, SamSam Stepney  LB Boston University Yankee
8 204 Seattle Seahawks Vic Minor  S Northeast Louisiana Ind. (I-A)
8 205 New York Jets Dziama, JeffJeff Dziama  LB Boston College Ind. (I-A)
8 206 New Orleans Saints Evans, ChuckChuck Evans  LB Stanford Pac-10
8 207 Seattle Seahawks Cosgrove, JackJack Cosgrove  C Pacific PCAA
8 208 New England Patriots House, MikeMike House  TE Pacific PCAA
8 209 Cleveland Browns Copeland, JeffJeff Copeland  LB Texas Tech SWC
8 210 San Francisco 49ers Bobby Leopold  LB Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
8 211 St. Louis Cardinals Grant Hudson  DT Virginia ACC
8 212 Miami Dolphins Jeff Allen  CB UC Davis FWC
8 213 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Goddard, DerrickDerrick Goddard  DB Drake MVC
8 214 Miami Dolphins David Woodley  QB LSU SEC
8 215 Chicago Bears Randy Clark  C Northern Illinois MAC
8 216 Dallas Cowboys Larry Savage  LB Michigan State Big Ten
8 217 Houston Oilers Harold Bailey  WR Oklahoma State Big Eight
8 218 Philadelphia Eagles Mike Curcio  LB Temple Ind. (I-A)
8 219 San Diego Chargers Sirmones, CurtisCurtis Sirmones  RB North Alabama Gulf South
8 220 Los Angeles Rams Tom Pettigrew  OT Eastern Illinois MCAA
8 221 Pittsburgh Steelers Walton, TedTed Walton  DB UConn Yankee
9 222 Detroit Lions Jett, DeWayneDeWayne Jett  WR Hawaii WAC
9 223 Detroit Lions Tom Tuinei  DT Hawaii WAC
9 224 Cincinnati Bengals Greg Bright  DB Morehead State OVC
9 225 St. Louis Cardinals Stafford Mays  DE Washington Pac-10
9 226 Green Bay Packers Kelly Saalfeld  C Nebraska Big Eight
9 227 Baltimore Colts Bright, MarkMark Bright  RB Temple Ind. (I-A)
9 228 Atlanta Falcons Keller, GlenGlen Keller  C West Texas State MVC
9 229 New York Giants Otis Wonsley  RB Alcorn State SWAC
9 230 Kansas City Chiefs Tom Donovan  WR Penn State Ind. (I-A)
9 231 Buffalo Bills Davis, KentKent Davis  DB Southeast Missouri State MIAA
9 232 Minnesota Vikings Dennis Mosley  RB Iowa Big Ten
9 233 New Orleans Saints Mordica, FrankFrank Mordica  RB Vanderbilt SEC
9 234 New York Jets Peters, JoeJoe Peters  DT Arizona State Pac-10
9 235 New England Patriots Burdet, BarryBarry Burdet  LB Oklahoma Big Eight
9 236 Cleveland Browns Roy Dewalt  RB Texas–Arlington —
9 237 San Francisco 49ers Hartwig, DanDan Hartwig  QB Cal Lutheran —
9 238 Seattle Seahawks Swift, JimJim Swift  OT Iowa Big Ten
9 239 Miami Dolphins Mark Goodspeed  OT Nebraska Big Eight
9 240 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gerald Carter  WR Texas A&M SWC
9 241 Washington Redskins McCullough, LawrenceLawrence McCullough  WR Illinois Big Ten
9 242 Chicago Bears Turk Schonert  QB Stanford Pac-10
9 243 Denver Broncos Greg Bracelin  LB California Pac-10
9 244 Houston Oilers Harris, EdEd Harris  RB Bishop Ind. (Div. III)
9 245 Philadelphia Eagles Harris, BobBob Harris  OT Bowling Green MAC
9 246 Dallas Cowboys Jackie Flowers  WR Florida State Ind. (I-A)
9 247 San Diego Chargers Whitman, SteveSteve Whitman  RB Alabama SEC
9 248 Los Angeles Rams George Farmer  WR Southern SWAC
9 249 Pittsburgh Steelers McCall, RonRon McCall  WR Arkansas–Pine Bluff Ind. (Div. II)
10 250 Pittsburgh Steelers Wilson, WoodrowWoodrow Wilson  DB NC State ACC
10 251 Detroit Lions Donnie Henderson  DB Utah State Big West
10 252 Cincinnati Bengals Sandro Vitiello  K UMass Yankee
10 253 Green Bay Packers Jafus White  DB Texas A&I LSC
10 254 Baltimore Colts Stewart, LarryLarry Stewart  OT Maryland ACC
10 255 St. Louis Cardinals Rush Brown  DT Ball State MAC
10 256 New York Giants Sanford, JoeJoe Sanford  OT Washington Pac-10
10 257 Atlanta Falcons Walt Bellamy  DB VMI SoCon
10 258 Minnesota Vikings Brown, KennyKenny Brown  WR Nebraska Big Eight
10 259 Buffalo Bills Greg Cater  P Chattanooga SoCon
10 260 New York Jets Guy Bingham  C Montana Big Sky
10 261 Kansas City Chiefs Martinovich, RobRob Martinovich  OT Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
10 262 New Orleans Saints Webb, TanyaTanya Webb  DE Michigan State Big Ten
10 263 Cleveland Browns Fiedel, KevinKevin Fiedel  C San Diego State WAC
10 264 Oakland Raiders Carter, WalterWalter Carter  DE Florida State Ind. (I-A)
10 265 Seattle Seahawks Ron Essink  OT Grand Valley State GLIAC
10 266 New England Patriots Daniel, RomRom Daniel  C Georgia Tech Ind.
10 267 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Andy Hawkins  LB Texas A&I LSC
10 268 Washington Redskins Lewis Walker  RB Utah WAC
10 269 Chicago Bears Stephens, WillieWillie Stephens  DB Texas Tech SWC
10 270 Denver Broncos Virgil Seay  WR Troy State Gulf South
10 271 Miami Dolphins Lantz, DougDoug Lantz  C Miami (OH) MAC
10 272 Miami Dolphins Long, BenBen Long  LB South Dakota NCC
10 273 Dallas Cowboys Matthew Teague  DE Prairie View A&M SWAC
Selection ruled invalid
10 274 Seattle Seahawks Rivers, BillyBilly Rivers  WR Morris Brown SIAC
10 275 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Davis, BrettBrett Davis  RB UNLV Ind.
10 276 Los Angeles Rams DiDonato, BobBob DiDonato  OT Pittsburgh Ind. (I-A)
10 277 Pittsburgh Steelers Ken Fritz  G Ohio State Big Ten
11 278 Detroit Lions Wayne Smith  CB Purdue Big Ten
11 279 Miami Dolphins Driscoll, PhilPhil Driscoll  DE Mankato State N/A
11 280 Baltimore Colts Whitley, EdEd Whitley  TE Kansas State Big Eight
11 281 Cincinnati Bengals Alton Alexis  WR Tulane Ind. (I-A)
11 282 St. Louis Cardinals Brown, DelrickDelrick Brown  DB Houston SWC
11 283 Green Bay Packers Skiles, RickyRicky Skiles  LB Louisville Ind. (I-A)
11 284 Atlanta Falcons Babb, MikeMike Babb  DB Oklahoma Big Eight
11 285 New York Giants Bernish, SteveSteve Bernish  DE South Carolina Ind. (I-A)
11 286 Buffalo Bills Gordon, JoeJoe Gordon  DT Grambling State SWAC
11 287 Kansas City Chiefs Dale Markham  OT North Dakota NCC
11 288 Minnesota Vikings Sam Harrell  RB East Carolina Ind. (I-A)
11 289 New Orleans Saints Woodard, GeorgeGeorge Woodard  RB Texas A&M SWC
11 290 New York Jets James Zachery  LB Texas A&M SWC
11 291 Oakland Raiders Massey, MikeMike Massey  LB Arkansas SWC
11 292 Seattle Seahawks Ena, TaliTali Ena  RB Washington State Pac-10
11 293 New England Patriots Mike Hubach  P Kansas Big Eight
11 294 Cleveland Browns Roland Sales  RB Arkansas SWC
11 295 Washington Redskins Matocha, MikeMike Matocha  DE Texas–Arlington —
11 296 Chicago Bears Judge, ChrisChris Judge  DB TCU SWC
11 297 Denver Broncos Farris, PhilPhil Farris  WR North Carolina ACC
11 298 Philadelphia Eagles Jukes, LeeLee Jukes  WR NC State ACC
11 299 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jones, TerryTerry Jones  DE Central State (OK) Ind. (NAIA)
11 300 Dallas Cowboys Gary Padjen  LB Arizona State Pac-10
11 301 Houston Oilers Preston, EddieEddie Preston  WR Western Kentucky OVC
11 302 Philadelphia Eagles Thomas Brown  DE Baylor SWC
11 303 San Diego Chargers Singleton, JohnJohn Singleton  DE UTEP WAC
11 304 Los Angeles Rams Terry Greer  WR Alabama State Ind. (Div. II)
11 305 Pittsburgh Steelers Frank Pollard  RB Baylor SWC
12 306 Pittsburgh Steelers Vaclavik, CharlesCharles Vaclavik  DB Texas SWC
12 307 Detroit Lions Ray Williams  RB Washington State Pac-10
12 308 Cincinnati Bengals Wright, MikeMike Wright  QB Vanderbilt SEC
12 309 St. Louis Cardinals Tyrone Gray  WR Washington State Pac-10
12 310 Green Bay Packers Stewart, JamesJames Stewart  DB Memphis State Ind. (I-A)
12 311 Baltimore Colts Bielski, RandyRandy Bielski  K Towson State Ind. (Div. II)
12 312 New York Giants Mike Lansford  K Washington Pac-10
12 313 Atlanta Falcons Jones, QuinnQuinn Jones  RB Tulsa MVC
12 314 Kansas City Chiefs Brewington, MikeMike Brewington  LB East Carolina Ind. (I-A)
12 315 Minnesota Vikings Lane, ThomasThomas Lane  DB Florida A&M MEAC
12 316 Buffalo Bills Lapham, RogerRoger Lapham  TE Maine Yankee
12 317 New York Jets David Dumars  DB Northeast Louisiana Ind. (I-A)
12 318 New Orleans Saints Lewis, KiserKiser Lewis  LB Florida A&M MEAC
12 319 Seattle Seahawks Gilbert, PresnellPresnell Gilbert  DB US International N/A
12 320 New England Patriots Jimmy Jordan  QB Florida State Ind. (I-A)
12 321 Cleveland Browns Jackson, MarcusMarcus Jackson  DE Purdue Big Ten
12 322 Oakland Raiders Calvin Muhammad  WR Texas Southern SWAC
12 323 Chicago Bears Bob Fisher  TE SMU SWC
12 324 Baltimore Colts Marvin Sims  RB Clemson ACC
12 325 Miami Dolphins Stone, ChuckChuck Stone  G NC State ACC
12 326 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coleman, GeneGene Coleman  DB Miami (FL) Ind. (I-A)
12 327 Washington Redskins Emmett, MarceneMarcene Emmett  DB North Alabama Gulf South
12 328 Houston Oilers Pitts, WileyWiley Pitts  WR Temple Ind. (I-A)
12 329 Philadelphia Eagles Howard Fields  DB Baylor SWC
12 330 Dallas Cowboys Norm Wells  DT Northwestern Big Ten
12 331 San Diego Chargers Price, HarryHarry Price  WR McNeese State Southland
12 332 Los Angeles Rams Scanlon, KevinKevin Scanlon  QB Arkansas SWC
12 333 Pittsburgh Steelers Tyrone McGriff  G Florida A&M MEAC
  1. ^ Players are identified as Pro Bowlers if they were selected for the Pro Bowl at any time in their career.

Hall of Famers

[edit]
  • Anthony Muñoz, offensive tackle from Southern California, taken 1st round 3rd overall by Cincinnati Bengals
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1998.[6]
  • Dwight Stephenson, center from Alabama, taken 2nd round 48th overall by Miami Dolphins
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 1998.[6]
  • Art Monk, wide receiver from Syracuse, taken 1st round 18th overall by Washington Redskins
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame class of 2008.[7]
  • Steve McMichael, defensive tackle from Texas, taken 3rd round 73rd overall by the New England Patriots.
Inducted: Professional Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

Notable undrafted players

[edit]
† = Pro Bowler[8]
Original NFL team Player Pos. College Conf. Notes
Atlanta Falcons Reggie Smith  WR North Carolina Central CIAA
Baltimore Colts Ron LaPointe  TE Penn State Ind. (I-A)
Buffalo Bills Steve Carpenter  S Western Illinois MCAA
Buffalo Bills Rick Dennison  LB Colorado State WAC
Buffalo Bills John Misko  P Oregon State Pac-10
Cincinnati Bengals M. L. Harris  TE Kansas State Big Eight
Cincinnati Bengals Blake Moore  C Wooster OAC
Cincinnati Bengals John Pointer  LB Vanderbilt SEC
Cleveland Browns Alvin Hall  S Miami (OH) MAC
Cleveland Browns Joel Patten  OT Duke ACC
Dallas Cowboys Dextor Clinkscale  S South Carolina State MEAC
Dallas Cowboys Anthony Dickerson  LB SMU SWC
Dallas Cowboys Jeff Gossett † P Eastern Illinois MCAA
Dallas Cowboys Guy Prather  LB Grambling State SWAC
Dallas Cowboys John Roveto  K Southwestern Louisiana Southland
Dallas Cowboys Don Smerek  DE Nevada Big Sky
Detroit Lions Mike Whited  T Pacific PCAA
Green Bay Packers Mark Murphy  S West Liberty WVIAC
Houston Oilers Donnie Echols  TE Oklahoma State Big Eight
Kansas City Chiefs Paul Dombroski  CB Linfield PNWC
Kansas City Chiefs Dino Mangiero  DT Rutgers Ind. (I-A)
Kansas City Chiefs Donovan Rose  CB/S Hampton CIAA
Los Angeles Rams Walt Arnold  TE New Mexico WAC
Los Angeles Rams Lucious Smith  CB Cal State PCAA
Los Angeles Rams Kurt Sohn  WR Fordham Ind. (Div. III)
Miami Dolphins Steve Shull  LB William & Mary Ind. (I-A)
New Orleans Saints Mike Augustyniak  FB Purdue Big Ten
New Orleans Saints Gordan Banks  WR Stanford Pac-10
New Orleans Saints Larry Coombs  G Idaho Big Sky
New Orleans Saints Jeff George  CB Illinois State Ind.
New Orleans Saints Steve Parker  DE Idaho Big Sky
New York Giants Phil Cancik  LB Northern Arizona Big Sky
New York Giants Mike Dennis  CB Wyoming WAC
New York Giants Curtis McGriff  DT Alabama SEC
New York Giants Leon Perry  RB Ole Miss SEC
New York Giants Mike Whittington  LB Notre Dame Ind. (I-A)
New York Giants Kervin Wyatt  LB Maryland ACC
New York Jets Sam Bowers  TE Fordham Ind. (Div. III)
New York Jets Gary Dulin  DT Ohio State Big Ten
New York Jets Jerry Holmes  CB/S West Virginia Ind. (I-A)
New York Jets Jim Luscinski  T Norwich —
Washington Redskins Jeff Bostic † C Clemson ACC
Philadelphia Eagles Oudious Lee  NT Nebraska Big Eight
Pittsburgh Steelers Bill Ring  RB Brigham Young WAC
St. Louis Cardinals Gary Hayes  CB/S Fresno State PCAA
San Diego Chargers Rock Richmond  DB Oregon Pac-10
Seattle Seahawks Greg Feasel  T Abilene Christian LSC
Seattle Seahawks Mike Garrett  P Georgia SEC
Seattle Seahawks Dave Krieg † QB Milton College IBFC
Seattle Seahawks Will Lewis  RB Millersville PSAC
Seattle Seahawks Mark McGrath  WR Montana State Big Sky
Seattle Seahawks Terry Rennaker  LB Stanford Pac-10
Seattle Seahawks Kirk Springs  S Miami (OH) MAC
Washington Redskins Chris Godfrey  G Michigan Big Ten
Washington Redskins Pat Ogrin  DT Wyoming WAC
Washington Redskins Kevin Turner  LB Pacific PCAA

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

1980 NFL draft

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The 1980 NFL draft was the 45th annual player selection meeting of () franchises to choose eligible college players. Held on April 29–30, 1980, at the New York Sheraton Hotel in , the event spanned 12 rounds and resulted in 333 total selections. The selected from the with the first overall pick. This draft is historically significant as the first to be broadcast live on television by , transforming the previously low-profile event into a major public spectacle and paving the way for its modern popularity. Among the top selections, the New York Jets chose wide receiver Johnny "Lam" Jones from the University of Texas second overall, while the Cincinnati Bengals picked offensive tackle Anthony Muñoz from the University of Southern California third overall; Muñoz would later be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other early picks included defensive tackle Bruce Clark from Penn State by the Green Bay Packers (fourth) and running back Curtis Dickey from Texas A&M by the Baltimore Colts (fifth). The draft produced several future Hall of Famers beyond Muñoz, including wide receiver Art Monk (selected 18th overall by the Washington Redskins), center Dwight Stephenson (48th overall by the Miami Dolphins), and defensive tackle Steve McMichael (third round by the New England Patriots). These players contributed to championship teams and earned multiple Pro Bowl honors, underscoring the draft's lasting impact on the league.

Background

Draft Format and Eligibility

The 1980 NFL Draft consisted of 12 rounds, resulting in a total of 333 player selections distributed among the league's 28 teams. This structure allowed each team multiple opportunities to build their rosters, with picks allocated primarily in reverse order of the previous season's standings to promote competitive balance. Player eligibility for the draft was governed by rules requiring participants to be at least three years removed from their high school graduation and to have exhausted their remaining eligibility. In practice, this meant the pool was limited to seniors, as underclassmen were not permitted to declare early until changes in the agreement took effect in 1990. Non-college players, such as those who had turned professional in other leagues or pursued alternative paths, could also qualify if they met the three-year threshold. To accommodate players who became eligible after the main draft—often due to resolved academic, legal, or personal issues—the NFL conducted a supplemental draft following the regular event. In 1980, this supplemental draft occurred on July 14 and July 17, providing teams with additional selection opportunities in a similar round-based format, though far fewer picks were made compared to the primary draft.

Team Preparation and Scouting

In the lead-up to the 1980 NFL Draft, the previous season's results heavily influenced team strategies and draft positioning. The , coming off a dismal 2-14 record in 1979—the worst in the league, tied with the —secured the No. 1 overall pick via tiebreakers based on , prompting a focus on bolstering their offense with elite talent to reverse their fortunes after consecutive losing campaigns. Other teams, such as the (8-8 in 1979, who traded up to the second pick with the 49ers) and (10-6 division winners who lost in the playoffs, receiving the 17th pick), similarly prioritized rebuilding through high-impact selections informed by their performances. NFL teams in 1980 relied on traditional practices to evaluate prospects, as formalized combines were not yet standardized. Scouts conducted extensive study of college game footage, which remained the primary tool before the widespread adoption of in the late , supplemented by in-person interviews to assess character and private workouts to measure athletic traits like speed and strength. These methods emphasized holistic evaluations, with scouts traveling to campuses for one-on-one sessions and all-star practices to gauge how prospects performed under pressure. The 1980 draft class was particularly noted for its depth at offensive line and positions, drawing intense scrutiny; for instance, the class produced Hall of Famer as the third overall pick and featured multiple first-round running backs like and , allowing teams to target trench players and ground-game specialists across rounds. Pre-draft all-star games played a pivotal role in exposing prospects to evaluators. The Senior , held on January 26, 1980, in , showcased top seniors, including Marc Wilson from , who impressed scouts with his arm strength in a lopsided North 57-3 victory over the South, helping solidify his status as a mid-first-round candidate. Similarly, the East-West Shrine Game on January 5, 1980, in , featured emerging talents and ended with a West 20-10 win, providing additional opportunities for private evaluations and interviews that influenced team boards. As spring 1980 progressed, mock drafts and trade rumors intensified speculation. Publications like early draft guides from analysts such as Joel Buchsbaum began circulating projections, often pegging as the consensus top pick , while whispers of potential trades—such as Detroit flipping the selection for multiple assets—circulated but ultimately fizzled, reflecting teams' strategic posturing amid the class's talent concentration.

Draft Proceedings

Venue and Broadcast Details

The 1980 NFL Draft, the 45th annual selection meeting in league history, took place over two days on April 29 and 30 at the Sheraton Hotel in . This location continued a tradition of hosting the event in New York, where team representatives gathered in the hotel's Grand Ballroom to conduct proceedings. The draft marked a pivotal moment in media coverage, as it became the first to receive a full national television broadcast on the newly launched network. Airing live from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST on April 29, the coverage spanned the first six rounds and reached approximately 4 million homes, a significant expansion from previous drafts that relied on radio reports or limited highlights. Anchored by hosts George Grande in New York and in ESPN's studio, with analysis from former executives like Joe Thomas and Upton Bell, the telecast utilized 10 cameras and pre-produced highlight packages for 135 players, enhancing public engagement with the event. Logistically, the draft followed a two-day structure, with the initial session on April 29 focusing on the early rounds and the second on April 30 covering the later selections through 12 rounds total. Commissioner presided over the proceedings, announcing picks such as the ' selection of and providing on-air interviews that underscored the league's confidence in the process. The event proceeded without notable interruptions, attended by league executives and scouts who finalized decisions in a controlled environment typical of the era's draft settings.

Key Trades and Selections

The 1980 NFL Draft commenced with the selecting from the with the first overall pick, aiming to revitalize their offense following a dismal 2-14 record in the 1979 season that earned them the top selection. , a winner, represented a cornerstone acquisition for a franchise seeking to inject speed and productivity into its ground game. A pivotal in-draft trade unfolded early when the , who had acquired additional first-round picks through a pre-draft deal sending Matt Robinson to the for their 1980 first- and second-round selections, packaged their own Nos. 13 and 20 overall picks to the in exchange for the No. 2 overall choice. The Jets used the acquired pick to select Lam Jones from the University of Texas, a track star known for his blazing speed, in a bold move to bolster their passing attack. In return, the 49ers gained two starters in running back Earl Cooper (No. 13) and defensive end Jim Stuckey (No. 20), enhancing their roster depth strategically without sacrificing their original high selection. The followed at No. 3 by drafting offensive tackle from the , a move that immediately strengthened their offensive line and became one of the draft's most celebrated selections. The first round continued with a mix of defensive and offensive talents, including defensive end (No. 10, from Texas A&M) and wide receiver (No. 18, Washington Redskins from Syracuse), as teams prioritized linemen and skill-position players while passing on several prospects who fell to later rounds. Minor adjustments, such as the moving up slightly to secure Marc Wilson at No. 15 after the opted not to select at that spot, underscored the fluid decision-making throughout the early proceedings.

Player Selections

First-Round Picks

The first round of the 1980 NFL Draft consisted of 28 selections across the league's 28 teams, with a focus on bolstering both offensive and defensive units amid a competitive talent pool. Defensive backs led the positional distribution with six selections, followed by five each for running backs, defensive ends, and offensive linemen; quarterbacks and linebackers each had two, while a and two wide receivers were selected. Pre-draft trades reshaped the selection order for several teams, including the , who maneuvered acquisitions to secure premium positions in the round. The following table details all first-round picks, including brief notes on each player's anticipated immediate impact based on scouting expectations and team needs at the time.
PickTeamPlayerPositionCollegeBrief Analysis
1Detroit LionsBilly SimsRBOklahomaAs the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner, Sims was poised to revitalize the Lions' struggling running game, bringing explosive speed and vision to a backfield averaging under 100 yards per game the prior season.
2New York JetsLam JonesWRTexasJones, an Olympic sprinter and track star, was expected to provide deep-threat speed to the Jets' passing attack, complementing quarterback Richard Todd amid a receiver corps lacking big-play ability.
3Cincinnati BengalsAnthony MuñozOTUSCMuñoz, a dominant left tackle prospect, was selected to anchor the Bengals' offensive line, protecting quarterback Ken Anderson and enabling a more balanced offense in Paul Brown's system.
4Green Bay PackersBruce ClarkDEPenn StateClark aimed to fortify the Packers' defensive front, using his quickness off the edge to pressure quarterbacks on a unit that ranked near the bottom in sacks the previous year.
5Baltimore ColtsCurtis DickeyRBTexas A&MDickey was tapped to inject versatility into the Colts' backfield as a runner and receiver, addressing a ground game that managed just 1,800 rushing yards in 1979.
6St. Louis CardinalsCurtis GreerDEMichiganGreer, with his size and strength, was projected to bolster the Cardinals' pass rush, targeting improvements for a defense that allowed over 4,500 passing yards in the prior season.
7Atlanta FalconsJunior MillerTENebraskaMiller was chosen to upgrade the Falcons' tight end position, offering blocking and receiving skills to support quarterback Steve Bartkowski's short passing game.
8New York GiantsMark HaynesDBColoradoHaynes brought shutdown corner potential to the Giants' secondary, expected to limit big plays against a defense vulnerable to explosive receivers.
9Minnesota VikingsDoug MartinDEWashingtonMartin was selected to strengthen the Vikings' defensive line rotation, providing depth and run-stopping power behind aging starters.
10Seattle SeahawksJacob GreenDETexas A&MGreen was anticipated to emerge as a premier pass rusher for the expansion Seahawks, enhancing a young defense in need of disruptive edge presence.
11Kansas City ChiefsBrad BuddeGUSCBudde, son of ex-NFL lineman Ernie Budde, was picked to solidify the Chiefs' interior line, improving run blocking for a ground attack averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
12New Orleans SaintsStan BrockTColoradoBrock was expected to stabilize the Saints' tackle positions, offering protection for quarterback Archie Manning on an offense plagued by 50 sacks allowed in 1979.
13San Francisco 49ersEarl CooperRBRiceCooper brought fullback toughness to the 49ers' backfield, designed to pave lanes for Joe Montana and diversify an emerging West Coast offense.
14New England PatriotsRoland JamesDBTennesseeJames was targeted to deepen the Patriots' secondary, adding speed and coverage skills to a unit that surrendered 22 passing touchdowns the year before.
15Oakland RaidersMarc WilsonQBBYUWilson was drafted as a long-term successor to aging quarterback Ken Stabler, bringing arm strength to a Raiders team aiming to maintain offensive firepower.
16Buffalo BillsJim RitcherGNorth Carolina StateRitcher was selected to reinforce the Bills' offensive line, focusing on gap blocking to support a running game led by rookie Joe Cribbs.
17Los Angeles RamsJohnnie JohnsonDBTexasJohnson was poised to solidify the Rams' safety tandem, enhancing coverage in a secondary that supported one of the league's top defenses.
18Washington RedskinsArt MonkWRSyracuseMonk was expected to become a reliable target for quarterback Joe Theismann, adding possession receiving to a passing attack in Joe Gibbs' new system.
19Chicago BearsOtis WilsonLBLouisvilleWilson brought speed to the Bears' linebacker corps, projected to boost run defense and pass coverage on a rebuilding unit.
20San Francisco 49ersJim StuckeyDEClemsonStuckey was chosen to add depth to the 49ers' defensive line, contributing to Fred Dean's pass rush in Bill Walsh's balanced scheme.
21Miami DolphinsDon McNealDBAlabamaMcNeal was anticipated to upgrade the Dolphins' cornerback depth, supporting a secondary anchored by Hall of Famer Dick Anderson's successors.
22Tampa Bay BuccaneersRay SnellGWisconsinSnell was picked to strengthen the Buccaneers' interior line, aiding protection for quarterback Doug Williams amid ongoing offensive struggles.
23Philadelphia EaglesRoynell YoungDBAlcorn StateYoung was selected for his versatility in the Eagles' secondary, expected to contribute on special teams and in coverage for a playoff-contending defense.
24Baltimore ColtsDerrick HatchettDBTexasHatchett aimed to provide cornerback speed to the Colts' defense, addressing vulnerabilities exposed in a 0-14 season.
25New England PatriotsVagas FergusonRBNotre DameFerguson was tapped as a complementary back to boost the Patriots' ground game, leveraging his college production of over 1,800 rushing yards.
26Green Bay PackersGeorge CumbyLBOklahomaCumby was projected to inject athleticism into the Packers' linebacker group, improving pursuit and tackling on a middling defense.
27Cleveland BrownsCharles WhiteRBUSCThe 1979 Heisman winner, White was expected to transform the Browns' running attack, ending a drought without a 1,000-yard rusher since 1974.
28Pittsburgh SteelersMark MaloneQBArizona StateMalone was drafted as developmental depth behind Terry Bradshaw, offering mobility to a Steelers offense transitioning after a Super Bowl era.

Later-Round and Overall Statistics

The 1980 NFL Draft extended to 12 rounds beyond the first, producing several standout selections that contributed significantly to their teams' success. In Round 2, the selected center from the with the 48th overall pick, a player who went on to earn four honors and induction into the . Round 3 featured defensive tackle from the University of Texas, taken by the at the 73rd overall pick; McMichael later became a key part of the ' 1985 Super Bowl-winning defense and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2024. Other later rounds yielded contributors like wide receiver Carlos Carson (, Round 5, 114th pick) and offensive tackle (, Round 6, 165th pick), highlighting the draft's depth in building roster foundations. Overall, the draft consisted of 333 selections across 28 teams, reflecting the era's structure of 12 rounds with compensatory picks from trades. The New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers each made 15 picks, the highest total, allowing them to address multiple needs amid active trading. In contrast, the Washington Redskins had the fewest at eight selections, limiting their influx of young talent that year. Positional trends showed an emphasis on skill positions in the early later rounds, such as running backs and wide receivers to bolster offenses, while defensive players like linebackers and defensive backs dominated the middle and later rounds to provide depth. A total of 8 quarterbacks were selected throughout the draft, spread across various rounds to address long-term needs at the position. The final pick, known as , went to the , who selected guard from with the 333rd overall choice in Round 12; McGriff briefly appeared in preseason games but did not make the regular-season roster.

Notable Players

Hall of Fame Inductees

The 1980 NFL draft produced four players who would eventually be inducted into the : offensive tackle , wide receiver , center , and defensive tackle . These selections highlighted the draft's depth, with inductees spanning the first through third rounds and demonstrating exceptional longevity and impact despite varying entry points into the league. Each contributed significantly to championship-caliber teams, earning multiple nods and honors while anchoring key positions on both sides of the ball. Anthony Muñoz, selected third overall in the first round by the out of the , became the cornerstone of the team's offensive line for 13 seasons from 1980 to 1992. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 305 pounds, he earned 11 consecutive selections from 1981 to 1991 and 11 First-Team honors over the same span, protecting quarterbacks and opening lanes for the Bengals' rushing attack as part of the renowned "Great Eight" offensive line unit. His dominance helped the Bengals reach in 1981 and in 1988, where he was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the . Muñoz's selection was initially seen as a gamble due to injury concerns from college, but he exceeded expectations by starting all 183 games he appeared in, retiring as one of the most decorated tackles in league history before his 1998 Hall of Fame induction. Art Monk, taken 18th overall in the first round by the Washington from , developed into one of the NFL's most reliable wide receivers over a 16-year career, primarily with the Redskins from 1980 to 1994. He amassed 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns, setting a then-NFL record with 106 catches in 1984—the first 100-reception season in the era—and becoming the first player to surpass 900 career receptions. Monk won three s with Washington (XVII in 1983, XXII in 1988, and XXVI in 1992), contributing 1,062 playoff receiving yards and seven touchdowns across 27 postseason games, while earning three selections (1984, 1985, 1986). Despite not being an immediate star as a , Monk's consistency and route-running precision far surpassed typical first-round wideout expectations, leading to his 2008 induction and recognition on the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Dwight Stephenson, a second-round pick at 48th overall by the from the , proved to be one of the draft's greatest values as a center who anchored the Dolphins' line for eight seasons from 1980 to 1987. After limited special-teams duty as a , he became a starter in 1981 and earned five consecutive appearances (1983–1987) along with five First-Team honors during that stretch, earning praise from coach as the best center he ever coached. Stephenson's quick snap and blocking prowess were central to Miami's offense, which featured Hall of Famer , and he was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1980s. His career was tragically cut short by a severe injury in 1987, limiting him to 114 games, but his per-season impact was unmatched, leading to his 1998 Hall of Fame induction as a mid-round steal who redefined the center position. Steve McMichael, drafted 73rd overall in the third round by the from the University of , overcame a rocky start to forge a 15-year career highlighted by his tenure with the from 1981 to 1993. After appearing in just one game with the Patriots in 1980 and being released, he signed with the briefly before joining Chicago, where he became a defensive anchor, recording 92.5 official sacks (fourth all-time among defensive tackles) and leading the Bears in tackles seven times. McMichael earned two selections (1987, 1988), two First-Team nods, and was instrumental in the Bears' victory in 1985 as part of the "46 Defense," amassing 15 sacks that year. His late-round selection belied his ferocity and durability—playing in 213 games—earning him a 2024 Hall of Fame induction after a career that far exceeded initial projections.

Other Significant Contributors

Billy Sims, selected first overall by the out of the , emerged as a dynamic in his rookie season, earning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after rushing for 1,303 yards and 13 touchdowns. He followed with back-to-back selections in 1981 and 1982, accumulating over 5,100 career rushing yards before a severe injury in 1984 prematurely ended his five-year career. Curtis Dickey, taken fifth overall by the from Texas A&M, provided versatility as both a rusher and receiver, earning a nod in 1981 after a standout rookie year with 800 rushing yards and 204 receiving yards. Over eight NFL seasons, primarily with the Colts, he totaled 4,019 rushing yards and 1,577 receiving yards, contributing significantly to the team's ground game despite frequent injuries. Don McNeal, the ' first-round pick (21st overall) from the , solidified the secondary as a , intercepting five passes in his 1980 rookie season and earning a selection in 1981. He appeared in two Super Bowls (XVII and XIX) during his nine-year tenure with Miami, recording 18 career interceptions and helping anchor a defense that reached the playoffs multiple times in the early . Roynell Young, drafted in the first round (23rd overall) by the from the , transitioned effectively to after starting as a , securing a berth in 1984 with the following a trade. Across 12 seasons with the Eagles, Seahawks, and , he amassed 23 interceptions, providing reliable coverage and run support for contenders in the NFC. The ' 1980 draft class, headlined by second overall pick Lam Jones—a from who struggled with consistency and production—nonetheless offered defensive depth through later selections like linebacker Lance Mehl (third round), who started 104 games over eight seasons and aided the team's 1982 playoff run amid the "" era.

Undrafted Players

Prominent Undrafted Free Agents

One of the standout aspects of the post-1980 NFL draft period was the success of undrafted free agents who signed with teams through at camps and tryouts, often overlooked due to size, conference affiliation, or other factors but proving their value in . The Washington Redskins exemplified this approach by aggressively pursuing undrafted talent to bolster their roster, particularly along the offensive line, which laid the groundwork for their dominance in the . Jeff Bostic, a from , went undrafted in 1980 despite earning All-ACC honors in college but initially signed with the before being released and joining . He quickly became a starter at , anchoring the famed "Hogs" offensive line that powered running back and quarterback ; Bostic started 159 of 184 career games over 14 seasons, all with Washington, earned a selection in 1983, and won three Super Bowls (XVII, XXII, and XXVI). His toughness and quickness against larger defensive linemen were pivotal in ' three NFC appearances during the decade. Dave Krieg, a quarterback from the small Milton College in Wisconsin, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks after the 1980 draft, entering camp as a third-stringer on a team invite. He worked his way up the depth chart, becoming the full-time starter in 1983 and leading Seattle to its first playoff berth that year; over a 19-year career primarily with the Seahawks, Krieg threw for 38,147 yards and 261 touchdowns, earned three Pro Bowl honors (1984, 1988, 1989), and appeared in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Tennessee Titans as a backup. His efficiency and scrambling ability defined an underdog success story in the Seahawks' early expansion-era growth. These signings highlighted how teams like and Seahawks used undrafted talent to fill critical roles and build championship-caliber units without high draft capital.

Impact on Teams

The undrafted free agents from the 1980 NFL draft class provided valuable depth and foundational contributors to several teams, enhancing roster stability without the cost of draft capital. For the Washington Redskins, center , signed as an undrafted free agent out of , appeared in all 16 games during the 1980 season, serving as a developmental piece on the offensive line. Bostic's presence helped solidify the unit over time, as he transitioned into a starting role and became a key member of the famed "Hogs" offensive line under coach , earning a nod in 1983 and starting in four Super Bowls (XVI, XVII, XXII, XXVI), which contributed to the team's three championships in the 1980s and multiple playoff runs. These examples illustrate the broader long-term effects of 1980 undrafted signings, as teams like leveraged such players for cost-effective talent that fostered line stability and sustained success, including repeated postseason appearances and championship contention without relying solely on high draft picks.

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